Combined vanity cape, turban, and apron



Jan. 11, 1955 MARY LOUISE YOUNGHUSBAND 2, ,9 4 NOW BY MARRIAGE MARYLOUISE RAMSBY COMBINED VANITY CAPE, TURBAN AND APRON Flled July 16, 19512 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 11, 1955 MARY LOUISE YOUNGHUSBAND 2,693,944

NOW BY MARRIAGE MARY LOUISE RAMSBY COMBINED VANITY CAFE, TURBAN. ANDAPRON Filed July 16, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Z4 Z0 25 Z0 3725 29-ai 33 2927 \II l 29' J0 36' Z3 Z7 )30 $7 3,

ii ti ti ififfiliiq 261/1 I as 35,25 2 I United States Patent 2,698,944COMBINED VANITY CAPE, TURBAN, AND APRON Mary Louise Younghusband,Chicago, 111., now by marriage Mary Louise Ramsby Application July 16,1951, Serial No. 236,913

4 Claims. (Cl. 2-174) The present invention relates to a ladys vanitygarment capable of being worn selectively either as a cape draped overthe shoulders, as a turban pulled up over the hair, or as an apron tiedaround the waist.

When worn as a cape draped over the shoulders, particularly whileapplying make-up to the face, or while washing the hair, brushing thehair, etc., the garment serves as a protective covering for protectingthe wearers dress, blouse, coat or the like from make-up, falling hair,hair shampoo, water, etc.

When worn as a turban pulled up over the hair or around the hair, thegarment can serve to keep the hair dry while taking a shower. It canalso be worn as a turban on the beach for protecting the hair againstthe sun, or as a turban for general outdoor or sports wear to keep thehair in place.

When worn as an apron fastened around the waist, the garment has utilityfor protecting the wearers skirt or dress, and also is attractive inappearance.

Thus, the general object of the invention is to provide an improvedvanity garment which will be capable of the three above described uses:(1) as a cape, (2) as a turban, and (3) as an apron; the garment beinginstantly usable in either of these capacities without any change,alteration or adjustment in the garment.

A more specific object of the invention is directed to an improvedmethod of making such a vanity garment having the above describedfeatures and advantages, whereby the garment can be made at minimumcost, and will have the requisite strength against tearing, or likeinjury in use. This latter feature becomes more important when makingthe garment out of some of the plastic materials which are moresusceptible to tearing.

Another object of the invention is to provide that part of the garmentwhich fits around the neck and around the head with an improved marginalbinding which is elastic in the central portion and non-elastic at theend portions. This marginal binding should have sufficient elasticity tosecure the desired snugness of fit around the neck when worn as a capeand around the head when worn as a turban. This elasticity, of course,tends to pucker or gather the material, and this gathered or puckeredmaterial is not as attractive in appearance as the smooth non-puckeredmaterial. This is particularly true when the garment is worn as aturban, with the marginal edge extending across the forehead. If thispart of the marginal binding is puckered across the front of theforehead, much of the attractive appearance is lost, because the garmentthen begins to look more like a night cap than a turban. I have avoidedthis objection by confining the elastic material to the central portionof the marginal binding, and by having non-elastic material to each sideof this elastic material. Thus, when wearing the garment as a cape, thepuckered elastic portion lies around the back of the neck, where it isnot readily visible, while the non-elastic smooth end portions lie inthe more conspicious positions at the front of the neck. Similarly, whenwearing the garment as a turban, the elastic central portion fallsaround the back of the head where the puckered material is not asnoticeable, while the nonelastic, non-puckered end portions extendacross the forehead, where they give a smooth attractive appearance.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparentfrom the following detail description of certain preferred embodimentsof the invention. In the accompanying drawings illustrating suchembodiments:

Figure 1 is a plan view of one embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a detail elevational view of one improved form of separatemarginal strip which I may employ to obtain the above described marginalbinding which is elastic in its central portion and non-elastic in itsend port1ons;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary detail view showing the anchoring of thenon-elastic tape to the end of the marginal binding by a snap fastener;

Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the garment in use as a cape;

Figures 5 and 6 are perspective views showing the garment in use as aturban;

Figure 7 is a perspective view showing the garment in use as an apron;

Figures 8 and 9 are plan views on a smaller scale showing otherembodiments of the invention similar to Figure 1 Figures 10 and 11 areplan views of other embodiments in which the marginal binding having theelastic central portion and non-elastic end portions extendssubstantially straight across one edge of the sheet of material; and

Figures 12, 13 and 14 are perspective views illustrating the embodimentsof Figures 10 and 11 worn respectively as a cape, turban and apron.

Referring first to the embodiment illustrated in Figures l to 5inclusive, the garment is constructed of a sheet 20 of soft pliablematerial of sufficient size to drape down over the shoulders when usedas a cape, and to pull up well over the hair when used as a turban. Forexample, I preferably make the sheet approximately 30 inches across, butit will be understood that the invention is not limited to any suchdimension. I preferably use a material which is light, soft andwater-proof or water-resistant. As illustrative of one very satisfactorymaterial which I have used in the making of these garments, apolyethylene plastic sheet identified in the trade as Vinylite or Exylinhas proven to be advantageous from the standpoint of being inexpensive,easy to work, attractive in appearance, and permanently waterproof.Numerous other plastic materials, rubberized materials, and otherwaterproof materials now extensively used in the manufacture of pockettypes of raincoats are also appropriate or suitable for my improvedvanity garment. Other nonwaterproof materials may be used if the garmentis not to be worn under a drenching shower for keeping the hair dry. Forexample, if the garment is only to be used as a cosmetic cape, beach orsport turban and apron, it may be made of such material as turkishtoweling, terry-cloth or other non-waterproof fabrics. In the embodimentshown in Figure 1, the sheet 20 is preferably square or rectangular, butmay be of other shapes, as illustrated in the later describedembodiments. The outer edges 21 may be plain or may be scalloped forornamentation, and any desired texture patterns, color patterns and thelike may be embodied in the sheet.

Spaced inwardly from all outer edges 21, and located preferablysubstantially in the center of the sheet 20, is an opening 22 which isadapted to fit around the neck of the wearer in the cape use of thegarment, around the forehead in the turban use, and around the waist inthe apron use. Around this opening 22 is the above described marginalbinding, indicated in its entirety at 23, this binding comprising theelastic intermediate portion 24 and non-elastic end portions 25, 25, thedetails of which will be later described. This elastic marginal binding23 makes the opening 22 elastically expansible for a snug fit around theneck, head or waist of the wearer.

In Figure 1, this expansible opening 22 is cut in the sheet as a slit orlong, narrow opening having its longer dimension extending diagonally ofthe sheet. Extending outwardly from substantially the center of saidexpansible opening 22 is an entrance slit 27, which preferably extendsto one of the corners of the sheet 20. The expansible central opening 22and the entrance slit 27 together form a substantially T-shaped incisionin the sheet. The opposite side margins of the entrance slit 27 aresuitably reenforced by bindings or tapes 28 extending along the edges ofthe slit and either sewed, heat sealed or otherwise secured to thesheet. Cooperating pairs of snaps 29, 30 or other like fastening devicesare secured to these reenforced edges, such snaps serving to close theentrance slit 27 when the garment is worn as a cape, and also serving tojoin parts of the garment when worn as a turban or apron.

Referring now to the details of the elastic marginal binding 23 aroundthe expansible opening 22, this is preferably made as a separate piece,as shown in Figure 2, being then secured around the edge of the opening22. The binding is made up of a narrow strip of the same material as thesheet 20, or of any other suitable material, which, according to oneembodiment, has its edges secured together in the form of a flat tubularbinding, sheath or piping 26. Disposed within this tubular binding orsheath is a length of elastic tape 32, and to the ends of this elastictape are secured lengths of non-elastic tape 33. The outer ends of thenon-elastic tapes extend from the ends of the binding to form tiestrings which are useful when the garment is worn as a turban or as anapron. If desired, cooperating snap fasteners 34 may be provided in thefree ends of the tie tapes 33, although these are not essential. Theends of the elastic tape 32 are anchored to the tubular binding orsheath 26 at the fastening points designated 35, as by stitching,riveting by eyelets, or in any other suitable manner. Prior to theanchoring of the elastic tape at the points 35, the tape is eitherstretched out to a considerable degree, or the tubular binding materialis gathered or puckered up, so that after anchoring at the points 35there will be an ample amount of the tubular binding material puckeredup to permit the elastic tape 32 to be stretched out sufficiently toenable the opening 22 to fit over the head in the turban use of thegarment. The non-elastic tapes or tieing strings 33 are anchored to theends of the tubular binding 26 by coacting male and female snapfasteners 36 and 37, which rivet or crimp through the binding materialand through the non-elastic tape. The end portions 25 of the tubularbinding extending outwardly from the anchoring points 35 to the snapfastener elements 36 and 37 respectively are not gathered or puckered sothat they present a smooth appearance across the front of the foreheadin the turban use of the garment.

The above described marginal binding unit 23 is fastened around the edgeof the opening 22 in any suitable manner, such as by stitching in thecase of conventional fabrics, or possibly by heat scaling in the case ofheat sealing plastic materials. That part of the sheet 21 lying adjacentto the gathered or puckered portion 24 of the marginal binding 23, towit, the portion lying between the points 35a, 35a, is correspondinglygathered or puck- F ered so as not to restrict the expansion of thispart of the central opening 22. That is to say, the length of thematerial 21 between the points 35a, 35a is longer than the normal orunstretched length of the elastic tape 32, so as to accommodate thestretching of the elastic tape and the expansion of the opening 22. Theabove described fastening or anchoring points 35 of the binding, wherethe ends of the elastic tape 32 have attachment to the sheath, are alsofastened or anchored to the sheet at the points 35a, 35a. Figure 3illustrates one manner of sewing or heat sealing the marginal binder 23to the sheet 21, but it will be understood that other methods may beemployed. For example, the two edges of the binder 23 may embrace thesheet 21 for fastening to opposite sides thereof, or the two edges ofthe binder may be fastened to the same side of the sheet at differentdistances in from the edge of the sheet. The tubular sheath 26, togetherwith the elastic intermediate tape portion 24 and the non-elastic endtape portions 25, 25 contained within the sheath, all cooperate togetherto reinforce the entire peripheral edge of the opening 22 against thepossibility of the edges of this opening being torn under stress.Furthermore, the sheath 26 and the nonelastic end portions 25, 25 of thebinding tape therein provide a reinforced anchorage for mounting thesnap fasteners 36, 37, whereby the sheath and non-elastic tape portionssustain the stresses imposed upon such snap fasteners and prevent thetearing of the fasteners from the garment sheet 24). The binder mightalso be formed as a hem, but such construction lends itself more readilyto the straight-edge embodiments of Figures 10 and 11.

When the garment is used as a cape, as shown in Figure 4, the expansiblecentral opening 22 fits with suflicient snugness around the neck to keepout cosmetics, shampoo, hair, etc. during make-up operations, and alsopresents an attractive appearance when the garment is worn as a cape onother occasions. At this time, the top snap fasteners 36 and 37 arefastened together at the front of the neck, and the other snap fasteners29, 30 are usually snapped together to close the entrance slit 27 downthe front of the garment. It will be noted that the smooth, non-puckeredportions 25 of the expansible opening 22 appear at the front of theneck, and that the gathered portion 24 is in a less conspicuous positionat the rear of the neck.

The garment can be converted into the turban use of Figures 5 or 6 bymerely pulling it upwardly over the head from the cape use of Figure 4.The rectangular points or the outer edges 21 are merely pulled straightup over the head, and the central opening 22 expanded outwardly toextend around the base of the head at the back and up over the upperpart of the forehead at the front. The surplus material above the top ofthe head can be bunched into the form of an attractive top knot as shownin Figure 5, and held in this position by winding the tie strings 33around the top knot and tieing these strings together, as shown, or bysnapping the snap fasteners 34 together at the ends of the tie strings.In Figure 6, the surplus material is shown curled over into the form ofa roll, and this roll is held in place by tieing or snap fastening thetie strings 33 in place around the roll. It will be noted that in eachuse as a turban, the smooth portions 25, 25 extend across the front ofthe forehead, and the gathered portion 24 lies in the less conspicuousposition around the back of the head.

Figure 7 illustrates the use of the garment as an apron, in which usethe entrance slit 27 is at the back. The manner of fastening at the backdepends upon the girth of the wearer, being either by tieing or snapfastening the tieing tapes 33 together, or by securing any of the snaps36, 37 or 29, 30 together.

Figures 8 and 9 illustrate modifications in which the expansible centralopening 22 is differently shaped, Figure 8 illustrating a substantiallycircular opening, and Figure 9 illustrating an elongated openingextending substantially in prolongation of the entrance slit 27. Inother respects, the constructions are the same as previously described.

In Figures 10 and 11 I have shown modified forms in which the expansiblemarginal binding extends along a substantially straight edge of thegarment. The previous reference numerals designate similar parts inthese modified embodiments, except that such reference numerals have aprime sufiix added thereto. The sheet may be of polygonal outline, asshown in Figure 10, or it may have a rounded outline, as shown in Figure11, with either a straight or scalloped edge, as desired. The expansiblebinding 23' comprises the elastic intermediate portion 24' and thenon-elastic end portions 25, 25, the same as above described. Thetubular sheath 26', together with the elastic intermediate tape portion24 and the non-elastic end tape portions 25, 25' contained within thesheath, extend the entire length of the upper straight edge of the sheet20' and reinforce this upper straight edge against the possibility oftearing under stress. Furthermore, the sheath 26' and the non-elasticend portions 25, 25' of the binding tape therein provide a reinforcedanchorage for mounting the outer snap fasteners 29, 30' and the innersnap fasteners 36, 37', whereby the sheath and these non-elastic tapeportions 25, 25' sustain the stresses imposed upon such outer and innersnap fasteners and prevent the tearing of the garment sheet 20, or thetearing of the fasteners from the sheet. Here again, the length of thematerial 20' between the points a, 35a is longer than the normal orunstretched length of the elastic tape 32', so as to accommodate thestretching of the elastic tape. The resulting gathering of the material20, when the tape is not stretched, is indicated by the light free handlines in the sheet 20' immediately adjacent to the length of elastictape. The sheet 20 is anchored to the ends of the elastic tape 32' atthe points 35a, 35a corresponding to the points where the non-elastictapes 33, 33' are fastened to the ends of the elastic tape 32. Thisexpansible binding 23 may be made as a separate entity and then securedto the sheet, as previously described, but in this straight line form ofthe garment the binding 23 might also be formed merely as a turned overhem consisting of an integral part of the sheet 20. The tie strings maybe provided or dispensed with, as desired, Figure 10 omitting suchstrings and Figure 11 including them. In any of the previously describedembodiments, if the marginal binding 23 or 23 and the tie strings 33 or33 are both composed of heat sealing plastic, they may be securedtogether by a simple heat sealing operation.

Figures 12, 13 and 14 illustrate the same uses of these modifiedembodiments as a cape, as a turban and as an apron. The manner ofeffecting these uses will be readily understood from the precedingdescription of Figures 4, 5 and 6.

While I have illustrated and described what I regard to be the preferredembodiments of my invention, nevertheless it will be understood thatsuch are merely exemplary and that various other modifications andrearrangements may be made thereinwithout departing from the essence ofthe invention.

I claim:

1. In a vanity garment of the class described capable of being Worneither as a cape or as a turban, the combination of a sheet of pliablematerial of sutficient size to drape down over the shoulders as a capeor to be worn around the head as a turban, said sheet having asubstantially straight edge along one margin thereof extending theentire longitudinal length of the sheet, a marginal binding stripextending along substantially the entire length of said straight edgeand secured thereto from end to end, said binding strip comprising acovering sheath, an elastic intermediate tape in the intermediateportion of said sheath, and two non-elastic end tapes in the outer endportions of said sheath and having their inner ends secured to the outerends of said elastic intermediate tape, the ends of said elasticintermediate tape being also anchored to said sheath and sheet at fixedattachment points intermediate each end of said sheath, the intermediateportion of said covering sheath and sheet which lies between said fixedpoints of attachment being gathered or puckered together preliminary tothe attachment of said elastic tape thereto so as to provide amplematerial to accommodate substantial expansion of said elastic tape andof the intermediate portions of said sheath and sheet, and cooperatingspaced apart snap fasteners secured to said sheath and to saidnon-elastic end tapes at points located adjacent to but spaced from theends of said elastic tape and also located at the outer ends of saidsheath.

2. The invention defined in claim 1 wherein the nonelastic end tapesextend beyond the ends of said sheath to function as tieing strings.

3. In a vanity garment of the class described capable of being worneither as a cape or as a turban, the combination of a sheet of pliablenon-elastic material of sufficient size to drape down over the shouldersas a cape or to be worn around the head as a turban, said sheet having asubstantially straight edge along one margin thereof vide ample materialto accommodate substantial expansion of said elastic tape and of theintermediate portions of said sheath and sheet, and cooperating spacedapart snap fasteners secured to said sheath at points located adjacentto the ends of said elastic tape and also located at the outer ends ofsaid sheath.

4. In a vanity garment of the class described capable of being worneither as a cape or as a turban, the combination of a sheet of pliablenon-elastic material of sufficient size to drape down over the shouldersas a cape or to be worn around the head as a turban, said sheet having asubstantially straight edge along one margin thereof extending theentire longitudinal length of the sheet, a marginal binding hemextending along substantially the entire length of said straight edge,an elastic tape in the intermediate portion of said sheet and hem, theends of said elastic tape being anchored to said hem and sheet at fixedattachment points intermediate each end of said hem, the intermediateportion of said hem and sheet which lies between said fixed points ofattachment being gathered or puckered together preliminary to theattachment of said elastic tape thereto so as to provide ample materialto accommodate substantial expansion of said elastic tape and of theintermediate portions of said hem and sheet, and cooperating snapfasteners secured to said hem at points located outwardly of the ends ofsaid elastic tape.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS583,609 Teuscher June 1, 1897 2,156,495 Hall May 2, 1939 2,379,722 KaseJuly 3, 1945 2,420,916 Sorge May 20, 1947 2,432,662 Gardner Dec. 16,1947 2,519,512 Stone Aug. 22, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 212,849 SwitzerlandJune 3, 1941 603,350 Great Britain June 14, 1948 855,106 France Feb. 5,1940 652,357 Germany Apr. 2, 1935

